Sen. Aguilar likes idea of reducing property taxes, not the governor's method
State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island is among those preparing for an expected legislative special session on property tax relief.
July 22, 2024Updated: July 23, 2024
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaGRAND ISLAND, Neb.- State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island is among those preparing for an expected legislative special session on property tax relief.
Gov. Jim Pillen plans to call for the session to start on Thursday.
Aguilar is a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Unicameral. He says he likes the idea of reducing property taxes, but not the method proposed by the governor.
“It’s just not the right one for me. All it is for me is another tax shift that takes taxes from one place and shifts them over to another," said Aguilar. "[The] people of Nebraska [will] be paying over a billion dollars in new taxes and I don’t think that is right.”
Aguilar says the session could last anywhere from nine to 13 days.
“I really hope that some good enough ideas come out of this and that we can come up with another plan for paying for it and accomplish what he wants to accomplish. I’m going to keep an open mind about it, and try to listen to some good ideas and support them if I can,” said Aguilar.
Aguilar says he has been in contact with the governor on several occasions about this subject.
“When the governor had his town hall in Grand Island, he asked that the people call their senator and ask them to support this," said Aguilar. "I didn’t receive any phone calls so that tells me that I’m on the right page in not supporting it. “
When NCN talked to Senator Ray Aguilar, Governor Jim Pillen hadn’t yet filled the paperwork needed to request a special session.